Paper clip



May 12, 1936 H. G. PAsHolAN 2,040,443

' PAPER CLIP Filed July l5, 1935 Patented May 12, 1936 f nomini` UNITE-D STATE-s Alrliri-:NT oFF-,lcs

G. Pashoiall, Worcester, Mass. Application AJuly 13, 1935, SerialA N0. 31,216 4 claims. (ci. z4zs1i This invention relates to paper clips of the type commonly used to secure two or more sheets of paper together or to attach small pieces of paper coupons, checks and the like to larger sheets, su as letter heads. i

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily constructed from wire orthe like, and which is capable of being applied to paper sheets with equal readiness from any point throughout the circumference of the clip, and which may be .placed in considerable number loosely within a beingused container without becoming entangled wit-Peach other so as to require careful separation before Another object of the invention is theprovision of a'clip of this character vwhich is so constructed as to prevent, in ordinary usage, the roughened ends from coming into sole contact with one side of the paper, which frequently results in tearing a portio from one of the lpapersattached tcgether 'with clips of the .ordinary construction when the clip is removed.'

different angular positions throughout v the. clip is lpaper Aat one point `Other'objects and advantages of the inventionv relate to various novel details of construction and arrangement-of teparts as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

` Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is an assembled view, showing lthe clip inone of its attached podtions as applied to two strips of paper to hold them in connected relation,

Pigs. 3 and 4 `are views similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the position or the parts when the paper clip is applied to associated paper sheets from its cira slightly modmedrrm cumference, and, Fig. is a planview o of paper clip.

In devices of this character as previously made, .r given an oblongshape or provided with outwardly projecting spaced ribs for guidingthe clip in its attachment to two or more application of the clip from-a certain definite angle and requires .that th' clip be turneddnto that position before it can be applied properly. in many'such clips the paper must be insertedfso that one of the free ends of the wire is4 the'sole engaging means contacting. 'the vand clamps tightly against one face of -one of wire ends are ronghened in these roughpaper sheets. vThis necessitates the the paper-sheets.- since the j the paper of one or' of the wire is bent outwardly as shown into close ntact with. the inner surface of the adjacent convolution, and the outer end 5 of the wire is bent inwardly into close contact with the outer surface of the adjacent convolution. The points of contact between the inner end l and the outer end 5 of the wire with the surface of adjacent convolutions may be locatedat or adjacent to a common radius 6 in order that greater facility may be provided for the application of the clip without forcing the paper between one free end of the wire and its adjacent convolution so as to cause a free end of the wire to bear directly upon one surface of the paper without having the support' of the adjacent convolution togprevent tearing of' the paper in the removal of the clip..

As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and A 4 of the drawing, the clip is adapted to be applied to the paper sheets or pieces 1 from'substantially any angle throughout its circumference, and in such a manner aslto avoid the insertion of the paper sheets between one free end portion of the wire and the remaining portionsof the clip.-

The freev ends 4 and l of the wire are preferably bentinto close engagement with the adjoining surface of adjacent convolutions, which when taken in connection with the fact that certain of the convolutions at least are spacedl froml each other radially a material distance, as indicated at 3, serves to permit the 'clip to be applied most naturally and readily by inserting the paper between adjacent convolutions rather than between a partial convolutionterminating in one end portion and the remaining convolutions. This may be seen upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 .of the drawing, wherein as lution of the spiral is located upon one side of the sheet, and the remaining convolutions on the other: or as in lig. 4, wherein between one and u conlvohrtions arev located outwardly of the and the remaining convolutions on the in Pig. 2, one entire convov sheet or sheets, inthat it is convenient in picking ing the various convolutions from each other may up the clip to place the thumb or one finger at the center of the spiral while supporting the outer portion from the .other side,'and by the application of a slight pressure forcing the center out of the plane of the outer convolution and thus provide an opening between complete vconvolutions for the insertion of the papers to be held.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 5

of the drawing the clip may be formed from any suitable material, such as a resilient wire 8, and is in the form of a .iiat spiral, as in the embodiment previously described. The clip is provided with an inner end portion 9 which may be bent to extend diametrically of or at any suitable angle relative to the circumference', and its free end portion I0 may contact with or be separated slightly from that part of the inner convolution next adjacent thereto. In this form of the invention, as well as in that previously described, all parts of the clip are located substantially within a commonplane. 'I'he outer free end portion I2 of the clip is bent inwardly into close engagement with the adjacent surface of the next convolution for the reasons more particularly set forth in connection with the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing. In the structure shown in Fig. 5, as in those previously described, at least two of the adjacent convolutions l2 and I4 are spaced from each other a suiiicient distance, as indicated by l5, to permit the ready insertion of paper sheets between the main portions of these convolutions without bringing one side of the sheetor any part thereof into position where it will be clampingly engaged by a free end portion and thus render it liable to injury in the application or removal of the clip.

While in the form shown in the drawing; each convolution is spaced'materially from the one next adjacent thereto throughout substantially its complete circumference, the manner of spacbe varied as may be founddesirable, one complete convolutio at least, being spaced from the one next adjacent thereto throughout substantially its entire extent to permit freedom of movement therebetween at right angles to the plane of the spiral;

What I claim isz- 1. A paper clip consisting ofa spirally wound stantially within a common plane and provided with free end portions located inwardly and outwardly of the spiral convolutions respectively, the outer of said end,` portions being bent inwardly out of the curve of the spiral into close engagement with the adjacent portion of the outer convolution.

A 2. A paper clip formed of a resilient wire arranged with all parts lying substantially in a common plane and in the form of a at spiral, the free end portions of said wire being located respectively outwardly of and inwardly with re- .lation to the several convolutions, and each of said end portions being bent somewhat out of the normal path of the spiral and into close engagement with a portion of the next adjacent convolution. Y

3. A paper clip comprisinga single piece of resilient wire bent into the form of a flat spiral and having certain of the adjacent convolutions spaced from each other radially to permit substantially free movement of the central convolutions independently of the outer convolutions and having one free end of said wire closely engaging that portion of the adjacent convolution which is in substantial opposition therewith radially of the clip.

4. A paper clip comprising a single piece of re*- silient wire curved throughout the major prtion of its extent to form a flat spiral in which certain of the adjacent convolutions are spaced from-each other throughout their circumferential extents a suiiicient distance to be capable of relative movement at right angles to the plane of the spiral without frctional engagement with each other and having the outer free end portion thereof frictionall'y engaging thatsurface of the ext adjacent convolution normally located in proximity 'thereto to facilitate the insertion of paper sheets between the spaced convolutions and to tend to prevent the insertion of such sheets between -the outer free end portion of the wire and the adjacent convolution.

maar d. PAsHoIaN.

`resilient wire all parts ,of which are located sub- 

